SPOILERS: IRON FIST - 6 Things It Got Right And 4 Things It Got Wrong
Iron Fist is now on Netflix and with less than stellar reviews, what exactly about the Marvel series doesn't work? For that matter, what about it does? Hit the jump for our spoiler-filled analysis...
Iron Fist has been mauled by critics, but it most definitely doesn't deserve that abysmal score on Rotten Tomatoes (which is extremely unfair considering the fact most reviewers were only weighing in on as few as one or six instalments of the series). After thirteen episodes, I definitely stand by what I said in my initial verdict, though there's no denying that the show does both a lot right and wrong.
What you'll find here is an in-depth look at Iron Fist's biggest wins and losses, ranging from the way Danny Rand's origin story was handled to the portrayal of his powers and those surprise cameos.
It goes without saying that major spoilers for the series follow, but regardless of whether you've finished watching or have yet to decide whether or not you should delve into the latest Marvel series from Netflix, you'll want to give this a read for everything you need to know about the show.
Didn't Work: The Hand
Daredevil first introduced us to The Hand, and while that show most definitely had some mixed results with the villainous clan of ninjas, by the time season two ended, we had a fairly good idea of what they're all about. However, if you went into Iron Fist expecting them to be fully established in time for The Defenders, this series just serves to really complicate matters. Madame Gao's faction is running a heroin operation through Rand Enterprises, while Bakuto is training recruits and placing them in positions of power so The Hand's influence can spread.
Individually, those goals make sense, but the fact that they end up going to war with each other simply confuses things and there's never any sort of indication as to how these groups are in any way linked to the one seen in Daredevil. It's like these shows are using The Hand for their own purposes but failing to communicate so it all ultimately ties together!
Did Work: The Action
An argument can definitely be made that Iron Fist doesn't feature enough in the way of action. That's something which is particularly problematic in the first two episodes (which really should have been condensed into one), but when the fight scenes do come, they definitely impress. As with most superhero movies and TV shows, some are better than others, but Colleen Wing is pretty much great from start to finish - especially her battle with Bakuto - as is Danny Rand as he takes on everyone from hatchet men to The Hand and Davos.
It's sometimes a little frustrating to see him struggle so much, while there's sadly nothing in Iron Fist quite as inventive as Daredevil's corridor fight scenes. However, it still works, and when the Iron Fist does come out, these are elevated to a whole other level and among some of the best hand to hand combat scenes you'll have seen on the big or small screen for quite some time.
Didn't Work: Danny Rand's Origin Story
If there's one area in which Marvel really dropped the ball here, it's Danny Rand's origin story. While I appreciate that showing K'un-Lun and Shou-Lao the Undying isn't quite as straightforward as Matt Murdock being blinded by chemicals or Luke Cage being placed inside a giant tank, the fact that we never got an episode dedicated to the hero's transformation into the Iron Fist is definitely disappointing.
There are snippets here and there and even a glimpse at the mystical city from a distance at one point, but the most we see of that dragon is the opening of a cave and some red eyes. If The CW can create fully CGI characters like Gorilla Grodd, King Shark, and Savitar, I don't believe for a second that Netflix didn't have the money to deliver a satisfying origin for Danny on the small screen. It feels like the show was copping out because they simply didn't know the best way to handle such mystical moments.
Did Work: The Meachums
I've seen a lot of complaints about Joy, Ward, and Harold Meachum in Iron Fist, but I for one thought this family was a great addition to the series. It's definitely fair to say that a little too much screentime is devoted to each of them over the course of the thirteen episodes and that much of it could easily have been trimmed, but when this family dynamic works, it works really well.
Ward's story arc is particularly satisfying, especially when it comes to turning against his father and ultimately becoming a friend to Danny. Joy on the other hand is a great female character, but the way things are left with her definitely don't work so well despite clearly being some season two set-up (more on that later). It's Harold who steals the show, though, as a twisted and manipulative villain who is seriously messed up. His surprise death and even more surprising resurrection work amazingly well here and his chemistry with Finn Jones' Danny is another highlight.
Did Work: Nods To Other Marvel TV Shows
I'll dive into these in detail in my upcoming Easter Egg post, but in terms of references to the other Marvel TV shows on Netflix, Iron Fist does a really good job. Daredevil is mentioned by a variety of characters (by name as well as being referred to as "The Devil of Hell's Kitchen"), while we get to see both an old bullet hole covered t-shirt belonging to Luke Cage along with a letter he's sent Claire Temple from prison. Jessica Jones even gets a surprise mention, while the appearance of Carrie-Anne Moss as Jeri Hogarth helps further establish her as one of the best things in this corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So, while we don't get any major cameos from the rest of The Defenders, Iron Fist definitely deserves some credit for finding an effective way to make it clear this series takes place in a shared world. There's also a mention of "The Incident" but still nothing about Ultron's attack or the Sokovia Accords.
Didn't Work: Claire Temple
While the references and Easter Eggs in the previous slide may have worked well in Iron Fist, the same cannot be said for Rosario Dawson's Claire Temple. She's now felt shoehorned into quite a few of these Marvel shows, but this appearance really doesn't work at all. Introduced as one of Colleen Wing's students, the way she becomes involved in this story is really unnecessary and silly, especially when she returns in the second half of the season and winds up accompanying Danny and Colleen to China.
While there, she manages to actually take down a member of The Hand with some clawed gauntlets despite having only had a couple of months of martial arts lessons! The character simply outstays her welcome in what feels less like a cameo intended to help bring Danny into The Defenders and more like Iron Fist's showrunners being forced to include her because most fans and critics are so enamoured with the former nurse!
Did Work (Mostly): The Iron Fist
Yes, there are some cool moments - mostly in the finale such as when Danny uses it to deflect a bullet and destroy an entire floor of Rand Enterprises - but this is something which should really factor into every fight scene, not just one or two now and again. As with the other mystical elements of Iron Fist, it appears as if the showrunners simply couldn't figure out how best to use it, but when it does show up, what makes Danny Rand an Immortal Weapon is definitely a lot of fun. That's why I've put this down as mostly working, but here's hoping The Defenders finds a way to improve on how it's used here.
Oh, and the lack of a costume? That the show definitely got wrong!
Did Work: Colleen Wing
Iron Fist has come under fire for not featuring an Asian lead, but those critics clearly missed Jessica Henwick's Colleen Wing. Her arc is brilliant from start to finish as we witness her relationship with Danny Rand develop and learn that she's secretly a member of The Hand. That may sound like sacrilege to some fans of the Daughter of the Dragon, but it works, and ultimately helps bring her and Danny closer, something it's hard to find fault with.
In terms of action, the character gets plenty of opportunities to deliver, with the sword fight with Bakuto mentioned a little earlier in this post a definite highlight which stands out as one of the show's best moments. After watching her in Iron Fist, there's no way anyone could find fault with Marvel and Netflix if they pair up the hero with Misty Knight for their very own spinoff!
Didn't Work: The Ending
Davos offering to kill Danny for Joy Meachum comes completely out of nowhere, especially when we see Madame Gao watching on nearby. Has she aligned herself with Davos, and if so, why would he make such an out of character decision? Well, that could be explained by the finale's next baffling plot point when Danny and Colleen arrive at K'un-Lun to discover that it's vanished after an attack from The Hand. This is clearly something done to set up The Defenders, but it doesn't have the intended impact and just feels out of place.
Did Work: Finn Jones As Danny Rand
However, despite having to tackle less than stellar material in places, Jones still manages to nail it, portraying a believable sense of vulnerability and toughness when the moment calls for it. Following the events of the finale, Danny will hopefully return as a more confident character, but I for one definitely can't fault Jones' work here and looking forward to seeing much, much more of him.
What did you like and dislike about Iron Fist? As always, feel free to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section down below.